Stercoral Colitis

Excerpt

Stercoral colitis is a rare inflammatory form of colitis that occurs when impacted fecal material leads to distention of the colon and eventually fecaloma formation. Fecalomas can lead to focal pressure necrosis and perforation, while colonic distention and increased intraluminal pressure can lead to compromise of the vascular supply and ischemic colitis.

Multiple areas of ulceration can present in the colon. The most common locations of ulceration are in the sigmoid colon and the rectum. When complicated by perforation, the mortality rate can be as high as 32% to 60%. Stercoral colitis most often occurs in patients with a history of chronic constipation, elderly patients with dementia, nursing home or bedbound patients, and occasionally young patients with psychiatric conditions. Chronic constipation is the biggest risk factor for developing stercoral colitis.